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Topic: Started a Glossary page on the Wiki (Read 7111 times)

I started a glossary page on the wiki, for explaining basic terms to new users, especially those unfamiliar with media centers, home automation, etc.

It can be found by searching for the word, "Glossary," in the search field on the wiki.

There is no substantive content there yet. The idea is to explain things like; what 1080p is, what an ATA is, what DHCP is in very basic terms, what a network switch is, what a script is, what the various wireless standards are (and maybe the frequencies they operate at in various countries), etc.

Ideally, it shouldn't be a place for editorializing. But rather it should be; simple, factual explanations of things that the uninitiated may not know. Internal & external links should be encouraged.

I figured it would be a good idea. Please contribute. Thanks.

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See my User page on the LinuxMCE Wiki for a description of my system configuration (click the little globe under my profile pic).

If your goal is a combined effort glossary of lmce and home automation terms, why not build the page here on the forums? Start a single thread called something like "terms for the wiki", then as people contribute with thread responses you update the first post of the thread to what the Wiki page will contain. When its substantial and thread replies slow down, then move it to the Wiki as a new page.

The goal is a place to send new users who are unfamiliar with things (like what the various video resolutions are, what ATSC, NTSC are, etc.) and can (and prefer to) look them up on their own... along with links to the relevant parts of the wiki...

But if people want to contribute terminology in this thread,... I'm all for that. I'll be adding a few terms tonight/this weekend, and building from there.

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See my User page on the LinuxMCE Wiki for a description of my system configuration (click the little globe under my profile pic).

Okay I will put some terms here then, I just felt it would be cleaner and easier for you to modify a thread post and be the one to update to the wiki instead of having several people modifying the same page.

General:NAS = Networked Attached StorageDHCP = Dynamic Host Configuration ProtocolTCP/IP = Transmission Control Protocol/Internet ProtocolEth0 = Primary or first listed ethernet port (default installations of lmce make this External network)Eth1 = Secondary or second listed ethernet port (default installations of lmce make this Internal network)DCE = Data Communications EquipmentUSB-A = Universal Serial Bus-A terminal (typical flat rectangular usb plug/jack)USB-B = Universal Serial Bus-B terminal (typical square usb plug/jack used often for printer and some modem connections)Switch (networking) = a device that forwards packets of information along a network, addressing is allowed but the device does not give new devices IP addressesHub (networking) = a device that forwards all packets to all connected devices, each device then reads the packet to see if it contains information intended for it)Router (networking) = a device that reads incoming packets and sends them to only the addressed client, typically enabled as DHCP controller for the network)VGA = Video Graphics Array (standard 15 pin, blue rectangular monitor plug)DVI = Digital Visual Interface (rectangular connector for digital video transmission, types are DVI-D, DVI-A and DVI-I)Serial Connector/Port = a 9 pin connector on some computers and devices that addresses attached devices in serialD-Sub 9 = see Serial Connector/PortAP (networking, wireless) = Access Point - where wireless clients clients attach to a wired network, can be configured to extend wireless coverage in repeater mode IP = Internet Protocol (typical usage is IP address or a location where computers can be addressed at)MAC = Media Access Control address - the unique identifier of a hardware device, not to be confused with Mac' which is abbreviated for Macintosh Computers and OSOS = Operating SystemBIOS = Basic Input Output System - a set of commands that a computer uses to understand itself and its internal componentsCMOS = Complimentary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor - the battery savable settings made to BIOS that allow for options to be stored and recalled after power lossCPU = Central Processing Unit - also referred to as proc, processor or in multiple core processors, a single coreRAM = Random Access Memory - also referred to as memory but not to be confused with storage memoryIDE = Integrated Drive Electronics - typically referring to physical drives (hard drive, dvd drive, cd drive) connected along a 44 pin IDE controller port on the motherboardMotherBoard = the main component of your computer that contains the cpu, ram and ports for other devices to connect toMoBo/Mainboard/SystemBoard - see MotherboardSATA = Serial Advanced Technology Attachment or Serial ATA - a type of connect that allows connection to serial addressed devices such as hard drive, dvd-drives etcPATA = Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment or Parallel ATA - an uncommon used term for IDE connections, sometimes used by linux programs such as Disk UtilityHDD = Hard Drive Disk - as BIOS understands detected devices the disks are labeled as disk then partition in numbers starting with 0, example hdd0,0 and hdd0,1 are the same device but shown as to seperate partitions. Linux displays SCSI, SATA and USB drives differently with alphabetical designations for devices and numeric extensions for partitions. BIOS recognizes 2 SATA harddrives with 2 partiions each as 'hdd0,0 hdd0,1 hdd1, 0 & hdd1,1' where linux recognizes 'sda1, sda2, sdb1 & sdb2'HDMI = High-Definition Multimedia Interface - a common connector that combines a digital video signal with a digital audio signal on a single cable and connector.VOIP = Voice Over Internet Protocol - SIP = Session Initiation Protocol (see VOIP) - this is a signaling and transmission method that VOIP can be addressed via

LinuxMCE common termsCore = The primary computer in the lmce network, the device containing lmce files and directoriesDCE/dcerouter = The function of the lmce core that directs commands to various plugins and devicesGSD = Generic Serial DeviceMD = Media Director, the term used to describe diskless nodes which store their image on the core and are capable of displaying mediaOrbiter = a device used to control a media director, with small exceptions these function as controllers only and can not display mediaTemplate = A developed set of instructions to instruct lmce how to communicate to attached devices and programs. Created as generic for similar items or specific to one item as necessaryDev = Developers - Programmers who develop, implement, bug-fix and often support Users and Testers, also referred to as devel(s)User = A user of LinuxMCE, the development intention of lmce is to allow users functional home automation, media, phone, climate and communications integration without knowledge of the above listed items. The end user of lmceTester = Users who assist developers by communicating device and setting issues to the developers, this information is used to make the User's experience automated and problem freeCommunity = Users, Testers & Developers that together make up the LinuxMCE projectProject = A term used to describe LinuxMCE in terms of an ongoing and ever improving software solution

I noticed you picked up a ton of ones I didn't think of. As I was reading through it kept saying "ooh he thought of that!" I think we have a good start we can add bits to as we think of them.

For my descriptions I recalled (this morning lol) reading through a wiki walk-through or install guide and keeping a separate browser tab open at all times to Google simple terms. Most of the time all I need is a quick explanation of a protocol, command or acronym and can get that from Google search results page without even following a link. I kept this in mind when doing my descriptions that if a users wants to master something there are better places than our wiki. Hop to glossary, look something up, get back to your tutorial or hardware support page.

I would imagine only certain users can modify the main menu table to the left of every wiki page. It would be nice to see a glossary link there for easy "right click open-in-new-tab" lookups.

I agree with that. My idea is to also have the Glossary link to the relevant wiki pages on that subject,... so one can right click on the link and open a new Tab to that material... and also link to external Wikipedia stuff... So, both newbie stuff and look up table stuff...

One particular thing would be to include horizontal and vertical dimensions of the various TV resolutions. A lot of people don't know that stuff off the top of their head, and have to look it up. They may know the native resolution of their Monitor/TV, but not what that is in terms of 720p or 1080p, or what-have-you,... Same for when someone is ripping video.

Anyway, that's my idea...

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See my User page on the LinuxMCE Wiki for a description of my system configuration (click the little globe under my profile pic).

You know what,... I haven't even looked at that,... sorry. I'll need to look at wikis that have charts and see how they're put together/formatted, then go to some sites on the standard resolutions and refresh rates for content to flesh it out...

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See my User page on the LinuxMCE Wiki for a description of my system configuration (click the little globe under my profile pic).

Not wanting to duplicate content,... just the table format,... and put resolutions names (480p, 720p, 1080p, etc.), dimensions, typical frequencies, typical modelines, and a list or link to a list of known devices that support that resolution...

Still working on my other project ("drop down" terminal on all MDs), but for that, I'm trying to make sure that, when I do that, it will be fully forward compatible with resolving security issues with the default permissions (MDs running as root), user account logins, etc... and maybe do that more in accordance with "standard" Linux practices (compatibility with SOPs for securing remote ssh logins, for example). I don't want it breaking anything or contributing to any possible system insecurity.

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See my User page on the LinuxMCE Wiki for a description of my system configuration (click the little globe under my profile pic).